The national Tidy Towns initiative was launched in 1958 by Bord Fáilte (now Fáilte Ireland). It was originally part of ‘Tostal’, a nationwide festival celebrating all things Irish. A step-up from the original National Spring Clean Campaign, which ran between 1953 and 1957, Tidy Towns rapidly developed its own identity and has gone on to become Ireland’s most well-known and popular local environmental initiative.
Right from the start, the primary focus of Tidy Towns was to encourage communities to improve their local environment and make their area a better place to live, work and visit. The competition aspect was an important element in developing friendly rivalry that would help boost standards across the board. The winner of the first competition held in 1958 was Glenties, Co Donegal. However, the emphasis was always on participating rather than winning as the very act of taking part brought benefits to the community. As a result of this focus on long-term results rather than quick returns, Tidy Towns was seen as a unique and far-sighted initiative.
Although just 52 towns entered in its first year, Tidy Towns rapidly increased in popularity with an average of 700 entrants per year. Its success also spawned many other initiatives at national, county and local level, which further boosted its reputation and impact. It is impossible to accurately estimate the number of people who have had some involvement in Tidy Towns, but it's safe to say it has run into the hundreds of thousands, and its influence on the transformation of Ireland’s landscape is undeniable.
The Department of Rural & Community Development (DRCD) assumed responsibility for Tidy Towns and now organises the initiative with the support of national sponsor SuperValu and a number of other agencies. While its success continues, and while it has moved with the times, the competition still retains the same core principle of its founders – “make your place a better place.”
Furthermore, to access additional information on the history of Tidy Towns, make sure to check out the extensive on-line archive. This includes written reports on Strokestown's participation since 1991, publications of special interest to Tidy Towns over the years and the complete list of overall winners. This section will expand as more items are gathered from the rich past of the SuperValu Tidy Towns, so please make sure to visit from time to time.
You'll also find details of the eight categories, and specific baselines, that Tidy Towns assessors consider when they visit communities.
Have a read through each of the categories and find out what we're working towards and how you can help
#YouCanHelp #SeeItDoIt
Right from the start, the primary focus of Tidy Towns was to encourage communities to improve their local environment and make their area a better place to live, work and visit. The competition aspect was an important element in developing friendly rivalry that would help boost standards across the board. The winner of the first competition held in 1958 was Glenties, Co Donegal. However, the emphasis was always on participating rather than winning as the very act of taking part brought benefits to the community. As a result of this focus on long-term results rather than quick returns, Tidy Towns was seen as a unique and far-sighted initiative.
Although just 52 towns entered in its first year, Tidy Towns rapidly increased in popularity with an average of 700 entrants per year. Its success also spawned many other initiatives at national, county and local level, which further boosted its reputation and impact. It is impossible to accurately estimate the number of people who have had some involvement in Tidy Towns, but it's safe to say it has run into the hundreds of thousands, and its influence on the transformation of Ireland’s landscape is undeniable.
The Department of Rural & Community Development (DRCD) assumed responsibility for Tidy Towns and now organises the initiative with the support of national sponsor SuperValu and a number of other agencies. While its success continues, and while it has moved with the times, the competition still retains the same core principle of its founders – “make your place a better place.”
Furthermore, to access additional information on the history of Tidy Towns, make sure to check out the extensive on-line archive. This includes written reports on Strokestown's participation since 1991, publications of special interest to Tidy Towns over the years and the complete list of overall winners. This section will expand as more items are gathered from the rich past of the SuperValu Tidy Towns, so please make sure to visit from time to time.
You'll also find details of the eight categories, and specific baselines, that Tidy Towns assessors consider when they visit communities.
Have a read through each of the categories and find out what we're working towards and how you can help
#YouCanHelp #SeeItDoIt
Strokestown Tidy Towns is an initiative of Tidy Towns Ireland
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